At noon on Jan. 12, Karen Osborne was joined by friends, family, designers, architects, builders and local business owners for an elegant luncheon celebrating Karen Renee Interior Designs' 25th anniversary.

The luncheon was held in the familiar surroundings of the designer's offices in the Winkelmeyer Building at 540 Baltimore-Annapolis Blvd. – a historic location she's occupied for a quarter of a century.

In 1947, Osborne's husband's grandfather Walter "Wink" Winkelmeyer purchased the building then on the site, collapsed it into the basement and constructed the current building over it. Operating as Severna Park Coal & Feed, the company handled supplies brought in by train. It gradually transformed into a hardware store. Today the building is leased, with Karen Renee Interiors the main tenant.

Osborne is considered something of a role model.

Returning home to Severna Park in 1992 from Alabama where husband Scott Osborne was in flight school, she couldn't find a job.

"The first Gulf War was going on and it was an economically terrible time. I was looking for employment as a designer and nobody was hiring," she said.

Photos of the people featured in Sharon Lee Tegler's "Around the Park" column

One day her mother-in-law, Betty Winkelmeyer Wells, asked "Why don't you start your own business?"

The comment spurred Osborne into action.

"Times were hard, but once I set my mind to creating the business, quitting wasn't an option. I worked day and night. I took a part-time job drafting systems furniture by hand in a commercial design firm to help things along."

"It took me a year and a half to get the company off the ground. Soon, I moved into a studio in the Winkelmeyer Building where I've been ever since."

Osborne gradually expanded the business. Today, her staff consists of two senior designers in addition to her three independent designers that collaborate on projects. KRI has garnered many awards, the most recent being a Merchandising Award from the Homebuilder's Association.

Conversation was lively as 30-plus guests waited for the celebration to begin with an award and ribbon cutting ceremony conducted by Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce CEO Linda Zahn. Among awards presented to Osborne was one for service to the community from Michael Phennicie, director of corporate and community relations from BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport.

A celebration highlight was Osborne's reminiscences about the past 25 years and expressions of gratitude to those who supported her. She referenced "beautiful spaces" her staff created but, more touchingly, recalled moments they've shared like birthday parties, celebrations of health for cancer survivors and working together as a team when hit by the biggest, longest recession she'd ever seen.

"It's our holiday celebrations, the installations and relationships we've enjoyed with KRI staff, interns, installers, professional colleagues, and clients. Without them, there'd be no celebration," she said. "It's not just 25 years of designing great interiors but triumphs and tragedies that bond us. It's the impact of what we do."

She emphasized she was grateful to husband Scott for his unwavering support of her dream, to her children Justin, Ryan and Kaitlyn for sharing her with a career she loves, and to her in-laws Betty Winkelmeyer Wells and husband Wilbur for providing encouragement and a great space to work.

Champagne was passed around for Scott's toast to his wife – a heartfelt toast made 25 years to the day he accompanied Karen to the courthouse in Annapolis to register her business name before walking two floors down to apply for their marriage license.

The party shifted into high gear as guests enjoyed a sumptuous buffet and gathered in casual conversation groups. Senior designer Cindy Armacost said she joined KRI a year-and-a-half ago drawn by Karen's drive, vision and reputation in the community. Having run her own business for 30 years, Armacost has expertise designing multigenerational residences.

Senior designer Stephanie Simmons is doing the interior design for a Purple Cherry Architects' redesign and addition for a 1930's brick mansion in Queenstown, Maryland. With KRI for five years, Simmons said she "loves working with Karen".